Combination strapping package and dispenser

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a combination strapping package and dispenser that includes a first strapping coil holding compartment and a second strapping coil holding compartment configured to be nested together and to define a coil receiving or holding area. The combination strapping package and dispenser is configured to hold a strapping coil during shipment from the manufacturer or distributor to the end user and additionally during the use of the strapping by the end user such that the end user does not need to remove the strapping coil from the combination strapping package and dispenser. In certain embodiments, the combination strapping package and dispenser of the present disclosure is configured for mid-range amounts of coil which are easier to transport and use, is compostable, and requires less cost to ship.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/473,322, filed on Apr. 8, 2011, theentire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Strapping (such as but not limited to steel, plastic, and polyesterstrapping) is widely used in a variety of industries to secure loadsprior to shipment of the loads. Steel strapping is used primarily forsecuring loads where high strength is necessary to secure the loads.Strapping is currently sold or delivered to users in a variety ofdifferent ways. Each of these different ways has certain advantages andcertain disadvantages.

One common method of selling steel strapping is in coils such asapproximately one-hundred pound to one-hundred ten pound coils. Thesecoils are wrapped in corrugated shrouds and placed on pallets fortransport to the user. These pallets (with the steel strapping coils)need to be moved by fork lift because they are extremely heavy, and insome cases, exceed the designated limits for hand lifting set by variousregulatory agencies. Specifically, these pallets are typically moved byfork lifts onto transportation vehicles at the manufacturer's ordistributor's facility and moved off of the transportation vehicles alsoby fork lifts at the buyer's or user's facility. At the buyer's oruser's facility, these heavy steel strapping coils are removed from thepallet, unwrapped and placed on a strapping dispenser. The buyer or userthen has to dispose of the empty pallet and the wrapping. This processis time consuming, environmentally wasteful, and economically wastefuldue to the pallet shipping and handling related expenses, the waste fromthe corrugated shrouds, and the handling and disposal of the pallets.These heavy coils are impractical for operators that work by themselves,are in a remote areas where help is not easy to find, and/or do not haveaccess to a fork lift.

Additionally, while traditional strapping dispensers have relativelyeasy payoff forces and hold such heavy steel strapping coils, suchstrapping dispensers for heavy steel strapping coils are relativelyexpensive (such as several hundred dollars). These strapping dispensersalso remain stationary during use.

Another common method of selling and delivering steel strapping to usersis in sample coils which are approximately twenty pounds. These samplecoils contain a relatively small amount of strapping (such as up tothree-hundred feet). These sample coils are placed in a fold-up cartonand require over packing when shipped by carriers such as UPS or FedEx.Additionally, the steel strapping of such sample coils is relativelydifficult to dispense. For example, often the carton is opened andplaced on the floor to allow the user to pull the strap out. Moreover,the diameters of these sample coils are relatively small which createsan issue with pigtailing, and specifically where the last few wraps ofstrapping of the coil are curled, and in most cases can not be used andhave to be discarded.

The above and other current steel strapping products on the commercialmarket do not address the steel strapping needs of moderate users. Theseusers need an easy dispensing method that is portable and costeffective. Likewise, the known packages for other strapping products(i.e., besides steel strapping) on the commercial market do not addressthese problems and do not provide users with easy dispensing methodsthat are portable and cost effective.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved apparatus and method ofshipping strapping coils (such as but not limited to steel, plastic, andpolyester coils) and for dispensing strapping (such as but not limitedto steel, plastic, and polyester coils) from strapping coils (such asbut not limited to steel, plastic, and polyester coils).

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a combinationstrapping package and dispenser. The combination strapping package anddispenser of certain embodiments of the present disclosure generallyincludes: (i) a first strapping coil holding compartment including abase wall and a plurality of side walls connected to and extendingtransversely from the base wall; (2) a second strapping coil holdingcompartment including a base wall and a plurality of side wallsconnected to and extending transversely from the base wall; (3) astrapping coil centering core attached to one of the base walls of oneof the first and second strapping coil holding compartments; and (4) aplurality of coil positioners each attached to one of the base walls ofone of the first and second strapping coil holding compartments and eachadjacent to a different one of the side walls of that compartment. Inthese embodiments, the first and second compartments are configured tobe nested together to define a strapping coil receiving or holding area.The present disclosure further contemplates that the combinationstrapping package and dispenser can include one or more strapping coilspacer sheets which enable the combination strapping package anddispenser to hold strapping coils of different widths. The presentdisclosure also contemplates that the combination strapping package anddispenser can include a plurality of coil guides which reduce contactand thus friction between the coils and the base walls or spacer sheetsto better facilitate the rotation of the coil in the combinationstrapping package and dispenser. In one embodiment, the combinationstrapping package and dispenser is preferably made of one or morecompostable materials to account for situations where the combinationstrapping package and dispenser is thrown away and eventually winds upin a land fill.

The combination strapping package and dispenser of the presentdisclosure is thus configured to hold the strapping coils duringshipment from the manufacturer or distributor to the end user andadditionally during the use of the strapping by the end user such thatthe end user does not need to remove the strapping coil from thecombination strapping package and dispenser. It should be appreciatedthat the combination strapping package and dispenser of the presentdisclosure is in certain embodiments configured for mid-range amounts ofcoil which are easier to transport and use, is compostable, and requiresless cost to ship. It should also be appreciated that the combinationstrapping package and dispenser of the present disclosure can beconfigured to hold, ship and dispense any suitable coils (such as butnot limited to steel coils, plastic coils, polyester coils, cords, andwires).

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of thecombination strapping package and dispenser of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the combination strappingpackage and dispenser of FIG. 1, showing the strapping in the bottomcompartment of the combination strapping package and dispenser.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom compartment of thecombination strapping package and dispenser of FIG. 1, with thestrapping removed from the bottom compartment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the bottom compartment of the combinationstrapping package and dispenser of FIG. 1, with the strapping removedfrom the bottom compartment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom compartment of an alternativeembodiment of the combination strapping package and dispenser of thepresent disclosure, with the strapping removed from the bottomcompartment and illustrating a strapping guide.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom compartment of a furtheralternative embodiment of the combination strapping package anddispenser of the present disclosure, with additional strapping coilguides.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the bottom compartment, topcompartment, and a spacer of a further alternative embodiment of thecombination strapping package and dispenser of the present disclosure

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bottom compartment of a furtheralternative embodiment of the combination strapping package anddispenser of the present disclosure, with alternative coil holdingguides, shown with the strapping coil removed.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view the bottom compartment of the combinationstrapping package and dispenser of FIG. 8, with the alternative coilholding guides holding a strapping coil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Various example embodiments of the combination strapping package anddispenser of the present disclosure are described below and illustratedin the accompany figures. For brevity, the combination strapping packageand dispenser of the present disclosure may sometimes be referred toherein as the strapping package, the strapping dispenser, the package,the dispenser, the combination package and dispenser, or thepackage/dispenser.

Turning now to the figures and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, oneexample embodiment of the combination strapping package and dispenser ofthe present disclosure is illustrated and generally indicated by numeral20. In this example embodiment, the combination strapping package anddispenser 20 includes a first or bottom strapping coil holding sectionor compartment 22, a second or top strapping coil holding section orcompartment 24 configured to nest with the first or bottom strappingcoil holding compartment 22, a strapping coil centering core 26 securelyattached or mounted to the center of the first or bottom strapping coilholding compartment 22, and a plurality of spaced apart coil positioners30, 32, 34, and 36. The first and second strapping coil holdingcompartments are configured to hold the strapping during shipment fromthe manufacturer or distributor to the end user and additionally duringthe use of the strapping by the end user such that the end user does notneed to remove the strapping coil from the first and second strappingcoil holding compartments after receiving the combination strappingpackage and dispenser. The bottom and top compartments are preferablyconstructed robustly to withstand the shipping environments anddispensing environments after shipment to the end user. In certainembodiments, as further discussed below, the combination package anddispenser is made from one or more partly or entirely compostablematerials to account for situations where the combination strappingpackage and dispenser is thrown away and eventually winds up in a landfill. It should be appreciated that the thickness of the walls of eachof the compartments may vary as desired and that these walls can be madefrom any suitable structure including but not limited to a structurewith one layer, a structure with integrally formed multiple layers, astructure with attached multiple layers, or a honeycomb structure.

Although not shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 and as further describedbelow, the combination package and dispenser can additionally includeone or more coil spacer sheets that: (1) enable the same size coilholding compartments to be utilized for several different straps widths,and (2) that increase the structural integrity of the top and bottomcompartments for shipping and use. Additionally, in certain embodiments,these coil spacer sheets provide a coil engagement surface with arelatively low-friction surface to facilitate the rotation of the coilin the combination package and dispenser.

More specifically, in this illustrated embodiment, the bottomcompartment 22 includes a base or bottom wall 50, and a plurality ofside walls 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, and 66 integrally connected toand extending transversely from the base or bottom wall 50. In thisillustrated embodiment side wall 52 is connected to side wall 54, sidewall 54 is connected to side wall 56, side wall 56 is connected to sidewall 58, side wall 58 is connected to side wall 60, side wall 60 isconnected to side wall 62, side wall 62 is connected to side wall 64,side wall 64 is connected to side wall 66, and side wall 66 is connectedto side wall 52. In this illustrated embodiment, the side walls havesuitable connection tabs (not shown) extending from one or more ends ofcertain or all of the side walls for facilitating the interconnection ofthe side walls. It should be appreciated that all of the side walls canhave these tabs or only certain of the side walls can have these tabs.The side walls are respectively folded over these tabs. It should alsobe appreciated that other suitable bottom compartment side wallconnection mechanisms can be employed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

The bottom wall 50 and the plurality of side walls 52, 54, 56, 58, 60,62, 64, and 66 partially define a coil receiving area configured toreceive and hold the strapping coil 28 as generally illustrated in FIG.2. In this illustrated embodiment, the side walls 52, 54, 56, 58, 60,62, 64, and 66 are all of a same length as best shown in FIG. 4. Itshould be appreciated that the perspective views in FIGS. 2 and 3 aretrue and thus only appear to show that these side walls are of differentlengths. It should also be appreciated that in accordance with thepresent disclosure: (1) the size and shape of each side wall of thebottom compartment may vary; (2) the lengths of the side walls of thebottom compartment may all be the same or two or more of the side wallsof the bottom compartment may be different lengths; (3) the quantity ofside walls of the bottom compartment may vary; (4) how the side walls ofthe bottom compartment are attached to the base wall of the bottomcompartment and each other may vary; and (5) the configuration of thebottom compartment may vary.

In this illustrated embodiment, the top compartment 24 includes a baseor top wall 70, and a plurality of side walls 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82,84, and 86 integrally connected to and extending transversely from thetop wall 50. In this illustrated embodiment, side wall 72 is connectedto side wall 74, side wall 74 is connected to side wall 76, side wall 76is connected to side wall 78, side wall 78 is connected to side wall 80,side wall 80 is connected to side wall 82, side wall 82 is connected toside wall 84, side wall 84 is connected to side wall 86, and side wall86 is connected to side wall 72. In this illustrated embodiment, theside walls have suitable connection tabs (not shown) extending from oneor more ends of certain or all of the side walls for facilitating theinterconnection of the side walls. It should be appreciated that all ofthe side walls can have these tabs or only certain of the side walls canhave these tabs. The side walls are respectively folded over these tabs.It should also be appreciated that other suitable top compartment sidewall connection mechanisms can be employed in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

The top wall 70 and the plurality of side walls 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82,84, and 86 partially define the strapping coil receiving area which isconfigured to receive and hold the strapping coil 28 as generallyillustrated in FIG. 2. In this illustrated embodiment, the side walls72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, and 86 are all of the same length. It shouldbe appreciated that the perspective view in FIG. 2 is true and thus onlyappears to show that these side walls are of different lengths. Itshould be appreciated that in accordance with the present disclosure:(1) the size and shape of each side wall of the top compartment mayvary; (2) the lengths of the side walls of the top compartment may allbe the same or two or more of the side walls of the top compartment maybe different lengths; (3) the quantity of side walls of the topcompartment my vary; (4) how the side walls of the top compartment areattached to the base wall of the top compartment and each other mayvary; and (5) the configuration of the top compartment may vary.

The top compartment 24 and the bottom compartment 22 are configured tomate or nest with each other as generally shown in FIG. 1. Morespecifically, the top wall 70 and the side walls 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82,84, and 86 of the top compartment 24, and the bottom wall 50 and theside walls 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, and 66 of the bottom compartment22 are all suitably sized and shaped such that the top compartment canbe mated or nested with the bottom compartment. In particular, in thisillustrated embodiment, the side walls 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, and86 of the top compartment 24 are configured to respectively nest or matewith side walls 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, and 66 of the bottomcompartment 22. It should be appreciated that the relatively tightmating or nesting of the top compartment 24 and the bottom compartment22 provides the secure connection between the top compartment and thebottom compartment. It should also be appreciated that one or morefasteners (not shown) can alternatively or additionally be used tosecurely attach the top and bottom compartments.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the top and bottom compartmentshave aligned coil dispensing openings or slots 90 and 92 which enablethe coil to be dispensed from the combined package and dispenser withouthaving to remove the top compartment from the bottom compartment. Morespecifically, the side wall 62 of the bottom compartment 22 defines acoil dispensing slot 90 and the side wall 82 of the top compartment 24defines a coil dispensing slot 92 which is aligned with the coildispensing slot 90 when the top and bottom compartments are nestedtogether. It should be appreciated that in accordance with the presentdisclosure: (1) the size and shape of each of these coil dispensingslots may vary; and (2) the side walls in which these coil dispensingslots are disposed may vary.

In this illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the top compartment24 also includes a strapping end receiver 94 in or otherwise defined bythe side walls. The strapping end receiver is configured to receive andstore the strapping end or tail when the combination strapping packageand dispenser is not in use. It should be appreciated that FIG. 1 isrotated with respect to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 to better illustrate thisfeature. It should also be appreciated that with respect to the end ofthe coil, the top and bottom compartments with the coil can be shippedin two different ways. In one way, the coil (including the end of thecoil) can be entirely inside the top and bottom compartments forshipping. In this case, the user would need to open or de-nest the topcompartment from the bottom compartment and thread the end of the coilthrough the dispensing slots 90 and 92. In a second way, the end of thecoil may extend through the dispensing slots 90 and 92 during shipment.In this case, the end of the coil may be positioned in the strapping endreceiver 94 or may be otherwise secured to the outside of the topcompartment. In these example embodiments, the combination strappingpackage and dispenser with the strapping coil is disclosed as oneproduct or apparatus. In another embodiment, the combination strappingpackage and dispenser without the strapping coil is disclosed as oneproduct or apparatus.

In this illustrated embodiment, the top surface of the base wall 50 ofthe bottom compartment 22 and the bottom surface of the base wall 70 ofthe top compartment 24 each function as coil bearing surfaces. In oneembodiment, these surfaces are treated with a low-friction material toreduce the friction with the coil as the coil rotates in thepackage/dispenser during use of the strapping dispenser. As furtherdiscussed below in relation to FIG. 6, another embodiment includesstrapping coil guides attached to one or both of these coil bearingsurfaces to: (a) reduce the payout forces and reduce the likelihood ofjams in the unwinding of the coil, and (b) reduce wear on the top andbottom compartment walls. It should also be appreciated that thepackage/dispenser of the present disclosure can include one or moreadditional structural support wall or sheets (such as a honeycomb padwall or sheet or corrugated material) which is attached to the basewall. In such case, the surfaces of those structural walls can include asuitable low-friction surface treatment and/or coil guides (as discussedbelow in relation to FIG. 6) can be attached to the structural supportwall(s) to prevent those structural walls from directly contacting thecoil.

As mentioned above, in the illustrated embodiment, the combinationpackage and dispenser 20 further includes a strapping coil centeringcore 26 securely attached or mounted to the center of the base wall 50of the bottom strapping coil holding compartment 22. The strapping coilcentering core 26 is cylindrical and configured to extend though thecentral opening of the coil 28 as shown in FIG. 2 and to maintain thecoil 28 in relatively centered position during shipment and use ordispensing of the strapping from the coil. In this illustratedembodiment, the strapping centering core 26 is suitably connected to thebase wall 50 of the bottom compartment 22 by an adhesive (such as glue);however, it should be appreciated that the strapping centering core 26can be suitably connected to the base wall 50 of the bottom compartment22 by other fastening mechanisms or integrally formed with the base wall50. It should also be appreciated that in accordance with the presentdisclosure: (1) the size and shape of the strapping centering core mayvary; and (2) that the strapping centering core may be attached to thebase wall of the top compartment.

As mentioned above, in the illustrated embodiment, the combinationpackage and dispenser 20 also includes spaced apart coil positioners 30,32, 34, and 36. Each coil positioner is mounted to the bottom strappingcoil holding compartment 22, and more specifically to the base wall 50of the bottom compartment 22 adjacent to one of the side walls.Specifically, in this illustrated embodiment, coil positioner 30 ismounted to the bottom wall 50 adjacent to side wall 66, coil positioner32 is mounted to the bottom wall 50 adjacent to side wall 54, coilpositioner 34 is mounted to the bottom wall 50 adjacent to side wall 58,and coil positioner 36 is mounted to the bottom wall 50 adjacent to sidewall 62. In this illustrated embodiment, the coil positioners 30, 32,34, and 36 are suitably connected to the base wall 50 of the bottomcompartment 22 by an adhesive (such as glue); however it should beappreciated that the coil positioners 30, 32, 34, and 36 can be suitablyconnected to the base wall 50 of the bottom compartment 22 by otherfastening mechanisms or integrally formed with the base wall 50. Itshould also be appreciated that for added rigidity the coil positioners30, 32, 34, and 36 can also be suitably attached to their respectiveside walls by an adhesive (such as glue) or other suitable fasteningmechanism. In this illustrated embodiment, the coil positioners are inthe form of spacer blocks; however, it should be appreciated that thecoil positioners may each be any suitable size and shape. It shouldfurther be appreciated that in accordance with the present disclosure:(1) the size and shape of each coil positioner may vary; (2) the shapeand size of the coil positioners may all be the same or two or more ofthe coil positioners may be different; and (3) the quantity of coilpositioners may vary.

In this illustrated embodiment, the coil positioners 30, 32, 34, and 36perform multiple functions. When the strapping of the coil 28 is firstbeing dispensed from the package/dispenser, the coil will rotate andshift toward these coil positioners 30, 32, 34, and 36. If allowed tomove freely, the coil 28 could break the side walls of the top andbottom compartments and thus a loss of containment of the coil wouldresult. The coil positioners 30, 32, 34, and 36 co-act with the coilcentering core 26 to limit movement in the lateral direction as the coilshifts in position as the strapping is being dispensed from the coil 28.

In certain embodiments, the combination package and dispenser iscomposed entirely from wood and wood fiber products (or substantiallyentirely from wood and wood fiber products with the exception of someadhesive (such as glue) that is used in the assembly. It should beappreciated that the combination package and dispenser can bealternatively made from other materials such as corrugated fiberboard orhardboard (i.e., another forest product). The use of these materialsenables the combination package and dispenser to be composted or chippedand pulped at the end of its life cycle. In other embodiments, thecombination package and dispenser is partly or entirely made fromrecyclable materials. In further embodiments, the combination packageand dispenser is partly made from materials which can be composted andpartly made from materials which can be recycled.

It should thus be appreciated from the above description that thecombination package and dispenser of the present disclosure: (1) enablessteel strapping coils (or other suitable strapping coils, such asplastic strapping coils) to be packaged, shipped and dispensed from thesame container; and (2) does not add a substantial amount of weight tothe coil. More specifically, in various embodiments, the combinationpackage and dispenser of the present disclosure can be used for steelstrapping coils weighing approximately forty-seven pounds (or less) suchthat the combined weight of the coil and the package/dispenser is underfifty pounds. This combined weight is both: (1) under the parcel postmaximum weight of fifty pounds for non-surcharged packages; and (2)under the designated weight lifting limitations of regulatory agencies.The product (including the steel strapping coil and the combinationpackage and dispenser of the present disclosure) is relativelyinexpensive to ship because there are no added surcharges due to itsweight. Additionally, the combination package and dispenser of thepresent disclosure does not need to be wrapped in additional packaging(such as plastic) to ship the product.

It should also be appreciated that the steel strapping coil which can beheld by the combination package and dispenser of the present disclosureis large enough to minimize pig tailing of the coil which makes the endof the coil difficult to use and which often occurs in small samplecoils.

Turning now to FIG. 5, another example embodiment of the combinationstrapping package and dispenser of the present disclosure is partiallyillustrated. In this alternative example embodiment, the combinationstrapping package and dispenser includes a coil dispensing guide 202attached to the side wall 262 of the bottom compartment 222. The coildispensing guide 202 may be attached to the side wall 262 of the bottomcompartment 212 by an adhesive (such as a glue) or another suitablefastening mechanism. This coil dispensing guide 202 protects the sidewall 262 from damage which can be caused by the strapping as it isdispensed from the combination strapping package and dispenser. The coildispensing guide may be made of any suitable material having a lowcoefficient of friction to steel and preferably a material having dryself-lubricating characteristics, high compressive strengthcharacteristics, and high resistance to wear characteristics. The coildispensing guide in one embodiment is made from a linear high-densitypolyethylene which is often referred to as an ultra-high molecularweight polyethylene. In one embodiment, this coil dispensing guide ismade from a chip board material.

FIG. 5 shows the coil dispensing guide 202 attached to the insidesurface of side wall 262. The present disclosure contemplates that: (1)the coil dispensing guide can alternatively be attached to the outersurface of one of the side walls; (2) the combination strapping packageand dispenser can include coil dispensing guides attached to both theinside surface of a side wall of the bottom compartment and the outsidesurface of a side wall of the top compartment; (3) part of the side wallitself can be made from such a low-friction material; (4) the size,shape and configuration of the coil dispensing guides may vary; and (5)an alternatively configured coil dispensing guide can be positioned inthe coil dispensing slot(s).

Turning now to FIG. 6, another example embodiment of the combinationstrapping package and dispenser of the present disclosure is partiallyillustrated. In this alternative example embodiment, the combinationstrapping package and dispenser includes a plurality of elongated coilguides 310, 312, 314 and 316 attached to the base wall 350 of the bottomcompartment 322. Each coil guides extends from one of the coilpositioners to the coil centering core 326, and more specifically, coilguide 310 extends between coil positioner 330 and the coil centeringcore 326, coil guide 312 extends between coil positioner 332 and thecoil centering core 326, coil guide 314 extends between coil positioner334 and coil centering core 326, and coil guide 316 extends between coilpositioner 336 and the coil centering core 326. The coil guides may eachbe attached to the base wall 350 of the bottom compartment 322 by anadhesive (such as a glue) or another suitable fastening mechanism. Thesecoil guides may be made of any suitable material having a lowcoefficient of friction to steel and preferably a material having dryself-lubricating characteristics, high compressive strengthcharacteristics, and high resistance to wear characteristics. The coilguides in one embodiment are made from an ultra-high molecular weightpolyethylene. In one embodiment, this coil dispensing guide is made froma chip board material. In one embodiment, this coil guides are made froma chip board material. In operation, the coil guides elevate the coiloff of the base wall 350 of the bottom compartment and reduce theengagement or contact surface area and thus the resulting friction fromthe engagement or contact between the base wall 350 and the strappingcoil. These coil guides reduce the payoff force required to pull thestrapping out from the package/dispenser so that the package remainsstationary or substantially stationary during dispensing. The presentdisclosure contemplates that: (1) the coil guides may be alternativelyconfigured and sized and arranged; (2) the number of coil guides mayvary; and (3) the coil guides may alternatively or additionally be placein the top compartment.

In the illustrated embodiment, the coil guides are attached to the basewall 350 of the bottom compartment. As mentioned above, it should beappreciated that the coil guides could alternatively be mounted on anadded structural support wall (such as an extra honeycomb pad wall)which is attached to the base wall. In such case, the coil guidesprevent the structural support wall from directly contacting the coiland thus reduce the payout forces and reduce the likelihood of jams inthe unwinding of the coil.

Turning now to FIG. 7, another example embodiment of the combinationstrapping package and dispenser of the present disclosure isillustrated. In this alternative example embodiment, the combinationstrapping package and dispenser 420 includes a first or bottom strappingcoil holding section or compartment 422, a second or top strapping coilholding section or compartment 424 configured to nest with the first orbottom strapping coil holding compartment 422 and to hold a coil 428, astrapping coil centering core 426 securely attached or mounted to thecenter of the first or bottom strapping coil holding compartment 422 andconfigured to extend through the coil, a plurality of spaced apart coilpositioners 430, 432, 434, and 436 (not shown), and a coil spacer sheet500 configured to be positioned between the bottom compartment 422 andthe top compartment 424.

The coil spacer sheet 500 can be employed when the width of the coil isrelatively small such that one size combination package and dispensermay be used for different width coils. In this embodiment, the coilspacer sheet includes cutouts for the strapping coil centering core 426and the coil positioners 430, 432, 434, and 436 (not shown). In oneembodiment, the coil spacer sheet rests on top of the strapping coilcentering core 426 and coil positioners 430, 432, 434, and 436 (notshown). In another embodiment, the coil spacer sheet is attached to abase wall of the top compartment 424. Specifically, a side of the coilspacer sheet that does not face the coil is attached, such as by anadhesive or other fastening mechanism, to the base wall of the topcompartment. Such an embodiment reduces the engagement or contactsurface area between the coil spacer sheet and the strapping coil andthus reduces the resulting friction from the engagement or contactbetween the coil spacer sheet and the strapping coil.

In different embodiments, the coil spacer sheet 500 is also made frompartly or entirely compostable materials. It should also be appreciatedthat the thickness of the coil spacer sheet 500 may vary as desired andthat the coil spacer sheet any suitable structure including but notlimited to a structure with one layer, a structure with integrallyformed multiple layers, a structure with attached multiple layers, or ahoneycomb structure.

For the above described embodiments, it is expected that a user mayplace the combination strapping package and dispenser in a horizontalposition such as on the ground or a table for use at the strappinglocation and will pull the strap out of the top and bottom compartments.It should be appreciated that the combination strapping package anddispenser described above can be placed in different positions to pullthe strap out of the top and bottom compartments.

In another embodiment which is not illustrated, the combinationstrapping package and dispenser of the present disclosure isspecifically configured for vertical use. In this alternativeembodiment, the combination strapping package and dispenser includes alow coefficient of friction to steel material such as described above onthe interior surfaces of one or more of the coil positioners (i.e., onthe surfaces which face the centering core). It should also beappreciated that this type of low friction material can also be used onthe centering core or that the centering core can be made of this typeof material. In certain versions of this embodiment, the coil guides areemployed (on either or both of the inside surfaces of the top and bottomcompartments), and in other versions of the coils guides are notemployed.

Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9, another example embodiment of thecombination strapping package and dispenser of the present disclosure ispartially illustrated. Particularly, the bottom compartment 722 is thisalternative example embodiment includes a plurality of U-shaped coilholders 731, 733, 735 and 737 attached to the base wall 750 of the firstor bottom compartment 722. These coil holders 731, 733, 735, and 737 areattached to the base wall 750 by an adhesive (such as glue); however itshould be appreciated that the coil holders can be suitably connected tothe base wall 750 of the bottom compartment 722 by other fasteningmechanisms. The coil holders may be made of any suitable material havinga low coefficient of friction to steel and preferably a material havingdry self-lubricating characteristics, high compressive strengthcharacteristics, and high resistance to wear characteristics. The coilholders in one embodiment are made from an ultra-high molecular weightpolyethylene. In one embodiment, this coil holders are made from aDELRIN material. In another embodiment, they are made from chip boardmaterial. In this example embodiment, the coil centering core is notneeded and the coil 728 is rolled in a somewhat different configurationsuch that the entire coil fits within the coil holders 731, 733, 735,and 737. It should further be appreciated that in accordance with thepresent disclosure: (1) the size and shape of each coil holder may vary;(2) the shape and size of the coil holders can all be the same or two ormore of the coil holders can be different; (3) the quantity of coilholders can vary; and (4) coil holders can alternatively or additionallybe attached to the top compartment.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

1. A combination strapping package and dispenser comprising: a firststrapping coil holding compartment; a second strapping coil holdingcompartment configured to nest with the first strapping coil holdingcompartment, said first strapping coil holding compartment and saidsecond strapping coil holding compartment configured to define astrapping coil holding area, said first strapping coil holdingcompartment and said second strapping coil holding compartment definingat least one strapping dispensing opening; a strapping coil centeringcore attached to one of the first strapping coil holding compartment andthe second strapping coil holding compartment; and a plurality of coilpositioners each attached to one of the first strapping coil holdingcompartment and the second strapping coil holding compartment.
 2. Thecombination strapping package and dispenser of claim 1, wherein thefirst strapping coil holding compartment includes a first base wall anda plurality of first side walls connected to and extending transverselyfrom the first base wall.
 3. The combination strapping package anddispenser of claim 2, wherein the second strapping coil holdingcompartment includes a second base wall and a plurality of second sidewalls connected to and extending transversely from the second base wall.4. The combination strapping package and dispenser of claim 3, whereinthe second coil holding compartment includes a strapping end receiver inone of the second side walls which is configured to receive an end ofstrapping.
 5. The combination strapping package and dispenser of claim2, wherein each coil positioner is mounted to the first base wall of thefirst strapping coil holding compartment adjacent to a different one ofthe first side walls of the first strapping coil holding compartment. 6.The combination strapping package and dispenser of claim 1, whichincludes at least one coil dispensing guide attached to one of the firststrapping coil holding compartment and the second strapping coil holdingcompartment.
 7. The combination strapping package and dispenser of claim1, which includes a plurality of coil guides mounted in the strappingcoil holding area.
 8. The combination strapping package and dispenser ofclaim 7, wherein each coil guide extends from a different one of thecoil positioners to the strapping coil centering core.
 9. Thecombination strapping package and dispenser of claim 7, wherein eachcoil guide is made of a low-friction material.
 10. The combinationstrapping package and dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least one of thecoil positioners includes a low-friction material on an interior surfaceof said coil positioner.
 11. The combination strapping package anddispenser of claim 1, which includes a low-friction material on thecentering core.
 12. The combination strapping package and dispenser ofclaim 1, which includes a coil spacer sheet configured to be positionedin the strapping coil holding area.
 13. The combination strappingpackage and dispenser of claim 1, which is at least partly made from atleast one compostable material.
 14. The combination strapping packageand dispenser of claim 1, which includes a steel strapping coilpositioned in the strapping coil holding area.
 15. A combinationstrapping package and dispenser comprising: a first strapping coilholding compartment, said first strapping coil holding compartmentincluding a first base wall and a plurality of first side wallsconnected to and extending transversely from the first base wall; asecond strapping coil holding compartment configured to nest with thefirst strapping coil holding compartment, said second strapping coilholding compartment including a second base wall and a plurality ofsecond side walls connected to and extending transversely from thesecond base wall, when attached, said first strapping coil holdingcompartment and said second strapping coil holding compartment define astrapping coil receiving area, and one of the first side walls of thefirst strapping coil holding compartment and one of the second sidewalls of the second strapping coil holding compartment define aplurality of aligned strapping dispensing openings; a strapping coilcentering core attached to the first strapping coil holding compartment;a plurality of coil positioners, each attached to the first base wall ofthe first strapping coil holding compartment coil adjacent to adifferent one of the first side walls of the first strapping coilholding compartment; and a plurality of elongated coil guides attachedto the first base wall of the first strapping coil holding compartment.16. The combination strapping package and dispenser of claim 15, whereinthe second strapping coil holding compartment includes a strapping endreceiver in one of the second side walls which is configured to receivean end of strapping.
 17. The combination strapping package and dispenserof claim 15, wherein at least coil dispensing guide is attached one ofthe first strapping coil holding compartment and the second strappingcoil holding compartment.
 18. The combination strapping package anddispenser of claim 15, wherein each coil guide is made of a low-frictionmaterial.
 19. The combination strapping package and dispenser of claim15, wherein at least one of the coil positioners includes a low-frictionmaterial on an interior surface of said coil positioner.
 20. Thecombination strapping package and dispenser of claim 15, which includesa low-friction material on the centering core.
 21. The combinationstrapping package and dispenser of claim 15, which is at least partlymade from at least one compostable material.
 22. The combinationstrapping package and dispenser of claim 15, which includes a steelstrapping coil positioned in the strapping coil receiving area.